Gifts That Profit All

Here is a transcript of a sermon regarding the “Gifts” of God’s Spirit” There is a link to the audio sermon at the end. It is a great bible study to review these scriptures that are quoted below.

By Warren Zehrung – June 15, 2013

It is good for us to go back from time to time and reread the Scriptures closely to make sure that we have stayed the course of truth and righteousness.

Let’s stick our noses in the Bible and read it closely – to see what God says to us. Through His Holy Spirit, God leads us into all righteousness if we are faithful to his ways. But we must be obedient to God – there is no getting around it.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that keep His commandments: His praise endures forever.

Within the Church of God there have been so many twists and turns over the last twenty years or more that we sometimes begin to think the Bible says one thing – when it really says another. What does the Bible really say?

Too many terms and definitions have taken on different meanings over time because we were not careful to maintain the fundamentals. It is a subtle form of deception – but deception none the less. We see the Church of God slipping into complacency and Laodiceanism.

Let’s take for instance the term ‘church’ and how it has changed. Long ago I heard pastors and ministers say, “I’ll check with Pasadena; I’ll check with the Church.” Those ministers believed that church administration was the ‘church.’ Church headquarters was the ‘church’ to those men.

We no longer check with Pasadena, but instead we check with Charlotte, Texas, or Cincinnati. We check with the “Church,” Meaning, of course that we are checking with Church headquarters. That is not how Jesus Christ used the word ‘church.’

Matthew 16:18 Jesus said: “I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus did not say, “I will build my churches (plural).” He said ‘church’ singular. The Church is ONE. The word “church” is the Greek is ‘ekklesia,’ meaning the one group of called out ones. Brethren, we are the CHURCH. Jesus had one thing in mind – and that was the called out brethren who constitute the Church of God.

As Jesus looks down from His heavenly throne, He sees only His one Church

Jesus does not see a patchwork of different churches. But we are scattered aren’t we?

Ephesians 5:23 “Jesus Christ is the head of the Church.” [not churches]

We find the use of the word churches in the Scriptures in references to local congregations – to distinguish which local is being spoken of – but collectively they all constitute only one church – of which body of believers – Jesus Christ is the head. The church at Corinth; the church at Ephesus… etc.

Brethren, if you wish to be in sync with God’s Word – from now on when you use the word church – envision the assembly of converted brethren as one people – because that is the way that Jesus views His church brethren. We are brethren with Jesus – and therefore we are brothers and sisters to one another.

Hebrews 2:11 For both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He [Jesus] is not ashamed to call them brothers, [and sisters.]

1 Corinthians 12:13 “By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

Sharing that same Spirit with God, we begin to put on God’s compassion, mercy, love, forgiveness, concern, mind, heart, with all the other converted brethren. We are many brethren – many members – but one Body of Christ.

Ephesians 1:22 “[God] hath put all things under [Jesus’] feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church.”

Today we are increasingly finding the church brethren being shattered and scattered before Christ comes.

Daniel 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swore by him that lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

In 1 Corinthians 1:13 we read that Jesus is not divided.

Therefore, the Body of Christ cannot be divided – but it is!

As we look at the shattered and scattered condition of the church brethren today – forbidden to cross the organizational lines to serve one another – and prohibited from fellowship with one another – we find that the Body of Christ is indeed divided.

The bigger corporate organizations will not allow their gifted speakers to give a sermon in other smaller congregations of God’s converted people unless the smaller groups agree to give allegiance and loyalty to the headquarters of the larger group. If a minister violates that ungodly ordinance* he is severely censured or even severed from the larger church corporation. Jesus said that His true ministers were to preach to all the creation:

* Mark 16:15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Jesus says that His word is to be preached to all creation! Why would an organization prevent its ministers from speaking to those converted brethren who are in need?

The man made division is taking a terrible toll. Church families are broken and not allowed to observe God’s solemn Feast Days together.

This divided condition of His church is a stench in the nostrils of Almighty God – and He is not pouring out His blessings now as He has done before.

According to God, there can be no barriers of division between like-minded, converted brethren when it comes to His Spirit and the gifts Jesus Christ has bestowed on all the Church brethren.

1 Corinthians 12 is the Chapter about spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

God wants us to know how it all works. First He tells us that there are different kinds of gifts.

Not everyone can sing. Not everyone knows their doctrine. Not everyone has the gift of encouragement, discernment, edification, musical talent, etc.

1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

“The same Spirit,” means these are Godly gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

A Dad administers God’s law for his wife and family, for example. These verses demonstrate that these Godly Gifts are for the express purpose of being of service — to someone — we’ll see ‘who’ in a moment.

1 Corinthians 12:6 And there are diversities of operations [using Godly gifts], but it is the same God which works all in all.

Specific Purpose Statement here:

God’s gifts are for all. Now, here is the point of today’s sermon: Just who are to be the recipients of the benefits of the gifts that have been bestowed on individual brethren.

In other words, if God has given you a beautiful singing voice – which part of God’s church should have the pleasure of enjoying the beautiful music?

1 Corinthians 12: gives us the answer from God’s point of view:

*1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

“Withal” is a word that we very seldom use. It means, for everyone

“Withal” means that each and every one of all the brethren are to profit from all the spiritual gifts.

The question that we need to ask ourselves is this:

Are these gifts – given by God – are they for a select few members in only one of the corporate organizations – or, are the gifts of the Spirit meant to be utilized for the entirety of the church brethren anywhere on the face of the earth?

The answer is this: Jesus Christ’s spiritual gifts are given to God’s people by the Holy Spirit for the common good of all the Church brethren.

Herbert W. Armstrong was given the gift of a imposing and authorative voice. What if he had been unwilling to share his gift with us?

Jesus says that the gifts that He gives are for the profit of everyone

Nowhere in these Scriptural verses do we find any limitation whatsoever that some brethren are to be excluded from benefiting from these Godly gifts. It is an improper use of God’s gift to not edify the entire Body of Christ. You do not cut off one race, one location or all of South America, for example.

These Gifts that God so freely bestows are not for the recipient – and his glory alone. These Gifts of God are for God’s purpose of edifying the entire congregation of Jesus Christ – wherever they are on the face of the earth.

There is no indication at all in the Scriptures that some brethren are more worthy than other brethren to be beneficiaries of Christ’s gifts.

How then are church leaders able to say that God has made them apostles; prophets; evangelists; pastors or teachers for only a small portion of the Church?

Why does Jesus give these particular gifts mentioned here? What is a minister [servant] of Jesus Christ supposed to be? It is a shame that this question even needs to be asked, but in these last days the term “Minister” has taken on the exact opposite connotation of what it was originally meant to present.

In the Church of God organizations the term “Minister” has come to mean everything from the man with the three piece suit and the big car – who tells you what to do, who flashes into town every week or so, and gives a sermon. He is the one who is in a coveted position of power and authority.

Ephesians 4 gives us the real answer to this question of why God gives these special gifts to individuals. What are gifts for? These gifts are given by Jesus for the purpose of perfecting God’s people; for serving and for building up the Body of Christ. We are to go on to perfection…

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.

Ephesians 4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ.”

Nowhere in these Scriptural verses do we find any limitation whatsoever that some brethren are to be excluded from benefiting from these gifts.

Unfortunately, the ministers often function to inhibit the use of the God-given talents of the brethren rather than helping each member to develop them! Rather than serving as motivating influences, encouraging members to develop their usefulness to God, the ministers function more as blockers and inhibitors in their congregation’s spiritual development.

Since the gifts of God are clearly for the profit of all the Church brethren according to Jesus Christ, how in the world do so many church leaders today withhold the gifts they have received from Jesus from all the other brethren who Jesus Christ says are entitled to them?

The Gifts of God are for all the church brethren! I submit to you brethren, that this Biblical truth of God’s gifts being meant of all, is not believed or practiced by a single one of the larger church organizations today.

They reserve the gifts of God to their loyal followers alone – and they severely sanction any who would go outside their corporate organization to share God’s gifts – which God says they must share.

There is something really wrong here! Almost every church organization freely admits that there are converted brethren in all the other groups – and yet they somehow withhold the spiritual gifts God has given them that are clearly meant to be for the profit of all brethren.

The Scriptures clearly say that those gifts given by God are for the profit of all the brethren.

We are going to read Psalm 68 because these Old Testament verses were Paul’s inspiration for his inspired writings about spiritual gifts.

Psalm 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

We just saw those verses about the chariots of God in Sinai at Pentecost.

Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: [notice, because we are speaking about spiritual gifts.] thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also [that is you and me brethren], that the Lord God might dwell among them.

Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads [all of] us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Let me ask you a question brethren: Who is it that is way up high in the ministry who has received God’s gifts today? You can make a list of names if you wish – you may have been taught that it is the Apostles and pastor generals and leading men that these verses apply to.

Not So.

Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive [notice how Paul is quoting Psalm 68:18 ], and gave gifts unto men.

What are the gifts that Jesus Christ gave?

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles [messengers]; and some, prophets [inspired speakers]; and some, evangelists [eulogizing preachers of the Gospel]; and some, pastors [shepherds watching over and looking out for the sheep] and teachers [instructors];

More and more as the Church of God aged, this concept of gifts became the basis for hierarchal rule of ministers over the brethren – which concept I might add is still deeply entrenched within most of the corporate churches today.

One of the last ministerial conferences that I attended – well after the apostasy – an evangelist stood up and said, “God gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers – what else can it mean but that God was setting up a hierarchal rule of the ministers over the brethren?”

Brethren, let me explain right up front, when we read these points, these are not ranks of Godly authority, but they are gifts given to individuals to be able to accomplish the job that God wants them to do.

We can see clearly in 1 Corinthians 12 that Ephesians 4:11 is not a ranking of Church authority positions here:

1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers [Teachers were the 5th gift that we just saw in Ephesians 4:11], after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Let’s make sure that the fact that Paul is clearly speaking of gifts is not lost on us brethren!

1 Corinthians 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

1 Corinthians 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

The Corinthians were regular brethren like us – not Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors etc – but regular Church folks.

Should regular Church folks expect to receive Godly gifts?

Notice what Paul tells the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way. [Then Paul goes on in the next chapter to tell what the very best gift is – Godly Love utilized in service to the brethren. Provoke one another unto love and to good works.]

*Paul made it clear that the support and foundation of the Truth of God does not reside in a corporate headquarters, or in an administrative hierarchal leadership but within the brethren of the Church of God.

*The support and foundation of the Truth of God resides within the brethren of the Church of God.

Paul is writing to Timothy:

1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou may know how thou ought to behave thyself in the house of God [what is the house of God?], which is the church of the living God [all the church brethren], the pillar and ground of the truth.

The pillar and ground of the truth does not reside in Rome, Jerusalem, Pasadena, Cincinnati, Charlotte or Texas – but in YOU brethren! The pillar and ground of the truth resides in the church brethren. Not in one leading man – or a few.

For what purpose does Jesus give these particular gifts mentioned here? This next verse gives us the answer to this question. These gifts are given by Jesus for the purpose of perfecting God’s people; for serving and for building up the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ:

“Perfecting of the saints,” means completely furnishing with Godly knowledge those brethren who have been called and set apart.

“Work of the ministry,” should be translated “Work of Service” – and it is not left up to your local minister – but to YOU brethren. “Work of Service” means preparing God’s people to be able to attend to need of the saints – to service the needs of their fellow brethren.

Sadly, we in the Church of God have not been taught sufficiently that we are to be the ones who are to go to the aid of our brethren in need – especially when they are in spiritual trouble – to help them into the Kingdom of God by helping then to get back on track spiritually – by laying down our lives – putting it all on the line to help save them. That is our responsibility – not that of the ministry sent from headquarters.

“Edifying of the Body of Christ,” means to build the Church which is His Body.

Ministerial administrations are Useless, unless they are producing within the brethren an independent ability to serve one another in a Godly fashion.

Ministerial administrations are Useless … unless they are producing within the brethren the ability to independently fight the good fight.

Ministerial administrations are Useless … unless they are producing within the brethren the ability to Stand Alone and approach God the Father – only through Jesus Christ.

I received an email from one of the scattered brethren this morning – actually a long time member and his wife who are no longer able to attend with any of the bigger corporate groups. They wrote:

“One of the biggest mistakes Worldwide Church of God ever made, and most of the corporate groups (both large and small) are still making today, is not preparing the brethren for works of service.

[Didn’t we just read brethren in Ephesians 4:12 that spiritual gifts are given to the brethren for the work of service – attending to need of the saints – to be able to service the needs of their fellow brethren.]

Continuing in the email:

“They [the paid ministry] have not in the past and are not today encouraging brethren to use their spiritual gifts and abilities as God intended, as we prepare and are being trained to be leaders with various abilities under Jesus Christ in the coming new world.

[God’s people are not being trained and prepared for the World Tomorrow – to be able to say – “this is the way walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21)].

Continuing in the email:

“Brethren who have clung to and still cling to the old Worldwide Church of God mindset in the past generation have missed so much and so many opportunities to grow in grace and knowledge and service.”

OK brethren, we have a real serious problem here. Why, for what purpose do we get together – why do we go to services? This next Scripture is often taken out of context in our church culture of today.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

That is our responsibility before Jesus Christ – to stir one another unto love and to good works.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

*These verses are not speaking about pot lucks, choir practice, socializing, having fun, church picnics, basketball games, etc., but spiritually helping others into the Kingdom of God by laying down his life for his fellow brother and sister in Christ.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Today in our dumbed down congregations these verses mean little more than show up to socialize with your friends – be happy, have fun and be successful, have pot lucks, sing, have games, picnics and look good.

Who today is a living sacrifice – laying down his life for his fellow brother and sister to be able to be in God’s Kingdom? It is God’s intention that we grow and excel in every one of His gifts even now:

1 Corinthians 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Brethren, here is what took place in Worldwide Church of God near the end:

We pursued the same approach that we find in worldly organizations, the military and the Catholic Church. Top down rule and authority – with the bottom people only expected to obey and not think.

We began setting up an authority structure where those who should have been servants (the ministry) were set up to lord over the people, the very opposite approach to what Jesus set before His Disciples.

Luke 22:25 And he [Jesus] said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

Benefactors means that those at the top of the hierarchy take care of us. That’s the same thing that we were taught in the Worldwide Church of God. There were times that we hardly dared enter their presence without being summoned – like Esther waiting for Ahasuerus, the king to hold out the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. (Esther 5:2)

Luke 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger [the youngest brother gets all the dirty jobs]; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve [like a slave].

Jesus says – don’t do it that way. The minister is supposed to be serving the brethren – not the other way around.

Matthew 20:25 Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

Matthew 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your [servant];

Matthew 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.

Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to [serve], and to give His life a ransom for many.

The ministers of the Church are not to structure the Church in the likeness of the military ranking system or the civil governments. Unfortunately, we see Church leadership structures conforming to Jesus Christ’s clear prohibition of being domineering overlords of the brethren.

Jesus was down on His hands and feet – washing the disciple’s feet – teaching us to do likewise.

Luke 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves? is not he that sits at meat? but I am among you as he that serves.

How is it that the ministry in God’s church are only willing to serve from their lofty reign of superiority. Jesus taught the disciples that they were to not be that way!

But in doing that very thing, we – in Worldwide Church of God – and today as well – made two mistakes. First was the setting up of an authority structure of ranks – like Jesus said not to do.

Secondly, was the reversal of roles – putting the headquarters ministry on top when Jesus says they must be servants, and putting the membership (the Church brethren) on the very bottom – where they were not taught to serve either!

It is still a wrong practice in much of the Church of God today.

These corporate organizations wish to expand their numbers of members considerably – “grow the church” – as much as possible because they would love to be the biggest of all.

Members can be in their organizations – but only as long as they pledge their allegiance and loyalty to the corporate ministry and the controlling headquarters agency. [That is unscriptural.]

1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Simon Magus did not want the power of God’s Holy Spirit for the good of the Church brethren but for himself and his own aggrandizement.

We are warned – and we are shown that the gift of God’s Holy Spirit can and will be used contrary to God’s intentions. And brethren, do not be so foolish as to cay it cannot happen to us. Billions have people – smarter than us – have been deceived in the past.

Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Simon Magus went to Pagan Rome and established the Catholics.

Brethren are not the personal property or slaves of the ministry nor of the corporations. Oh yes, the big church corporations can disfellowship you from their organizations for teaching the truth – but not from God.

They seek to instill an awe and fear in all the other brethren – and they have been very successful.

1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away.

The bigger church organizations are incorrectly teaching that it is though our relationship with Jesus Christ is channeled thru them – some temporal loyalty to men, headquarters and organizations.

We do not go to God, or build our relationship with God through organizations, groups, structures, corporations, ministers or personalities – we go directly through Jesus Christ to God the Father.

The bigger church organizations teach that Loyalty to THEM first – represents true loyalty to God!

Brethren, that is unscriptural.

What is the church? It is not an organization. It is not a corporation.

Jesus is building His Church – we began with that Scripture today – Matthew 16:18.

But the Church that Jesus is building belongs to God, therefore the Scriptures reveal that the called out brethren are to be called, “The Church of God.”

*Let’s understand these essential truths. Our relationship is with God, through Jesus Christ, our intermediary – not through a man, a Pastor, nor a king

Let’s be absolutely clear: We do not go to God, or build our relationship with God through organizations, groups, structures, corporations, ministers or personalities.

1 Timothy 2:5 “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

We were reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

There is only one mediator between God and men, and that is Jesus the Messiah. What is the role of these shepherds – these ministers? What is their duty? We find the answer in Ephesians 4.

Paul did not lord it over the brethren. He did not consider himself to in a different class or rank – but he included himself with the brethren.

Ephesians 4:13 Till we [Paul includes himself] all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

A pastor, who is a true minister, protects his flock, and he considers himself to be one of the brethren.

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

These gifts are for a very specific purpose. They are to bring us to the perfection of Christ. We will not get there while in the flesh, but we need to continually move that way.

A pastor who is a true minister points the brethren to Jesus Christ, and to live as Christ does.

Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Jesus has given gifts, spiritual gifts to His Church so that it is nourished and sustained.

The first gift given to us at the time of our conversion is the gift of God’s Spirit.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Another great gift is the freely given gift of the righteousness of Christ which follows God graciousness forgiveness of sin repented of.

Romans 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

A third gift that I suppose many might list as first is the gift of eternal life.

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There are many different gifts – but they are not given to one church organization to be jealously kept and retain unto itself for its own selfish purposes – away from all the other scattered brethren of God’s Church.

No! God gives His many spiritual gifts for the purpose of the entire Body of true Christian believers. Notice some of the many different gifts:

1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

1 Corinthians 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all.

1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. [For everyone’s profit.]

1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

1 Corinthians 12:11 But all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without significance.

1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the [entire] church.

Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Romans 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching;

Romans 12:8 Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

God’s gifts are for the purpose of building up all unto Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of [all] the saints, for the work of service to one another, for the edifying of the Body of Christ:

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Let’s remember, it is not just the job of the local ministry, it is the job of every one of us to help one another into the Kingdom of God. It is the job of every one of us to help others even if they have a sin, even if they have a fault or a weakness.

If we are to be true servants of Christ, it is our duty to help everyone into the Kingdom of God.

5 Comments

I confess I started with mixed reactions to this sermon. Mr. Zehrung has some valid points, but this sermon seems to have a mixture of truth and error. That was my initial reaction, but as I continued to read the transcript, the error seemed to dominate.

Mr. Zehrung said, “Let’s take for instance the term ‘church’ and how it has changed. Long ago I heard pastors and ministers say, ‘I’ll check with Pasadena; I’ll check with the Church.’ Those ministers believed that church administration was the ‘church.’ Church headquarters was the ‘church’ to those men. We no longer check with Pasadena, but instead we check with Charlotte, Texas, or Cincinnati. We check with the ‘Church,’ meaning, of course that we are checking with Church headquarters. That is not how Jesus Christ used the word ‘church.’ ”

Christ never used the term “church” that way? Really?

The word “church” like many words can vary in meaning according to context. Mr. Zehrung makes a valid point when he says that the Church is the collective body of all converted Christians, whatever organization they are in, or even in no organization. Those are my words, but I think that is what he meant. And he is right.

But it is not wrong to sometimes use the word “church”, not to refer to the whole body of Christians, but to those in authority, such as headquarters, as in the example he gives of old Worldwide ministers saying, “I’ll check with the Church”. It seems that at least on one occasion, Christ Himself used the term that way, not to refer to all the members, but to those in authority.

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17). Christ says, if he refuses hear, “tell it to the church”. What does Christ mean by “church”? The entire collective body of converted Christians, everyone who has God’s Holy Spirit? Not likely, in my opinion and the opinion of most ministers. I don’t think even Mr. Zehrung would suggest that we tell everyone in the Church how our brother offended us if he won’t listen to us. Rather, we go to our pastor or to someone who has authority. Someone has to have authority to make binding decisions on disputes between brethren. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (verse 18). Otherwise, if there is a dispute between brethren, each offended brother will accuse the other in front of every member he can find, trying to recruit people to his side of the issue. That is a recipe for war, not reconciliation. I don’t think Mr. Zehrung would want that in his congregation, but rather if there is a dispute, he would make the judgment call as to who is right and what must be done. That is the only way you can have peace. Someone must be in charge.

And so, in this case, Christ did not use the term “church” to mean the whole church, but only those in authority. It is a matter of context. We can tell from the context what someone means by “church”, usually, except when a speaker or writer is deliberately blurring different meanings of the word to deceive. Mr. Zehrung hasn’t done that with the term “church”, but I have heard other speakers do it sometimes.

Mr. Zehrung also said, “These Gifts that God so freely bestows are not for the recipient – and his glory alone. These Gifts of God are for God’s purpose of edifying the entire congregation of Jesus Christ – wherever they are on the face of the earth. There is no indication at all in the Scriptures that some brethren are more worthy than other brethren to be beneficiaries of Christ’s gifts. How then are church leaders able to say that God has made them apostles; prophets; evangelists; pastors or teachers for only a small portion of the Church?”

I am not sure what Mr. Zehrung is advocating here. Is he saying that everyone in the Church, minister or lay member, should teach whatever knowledge or insight he has that he thinks is a gift from God to anyone in the Church at any time, without restriction by higher authority? That also is a recipe for confusion. You might as well say there should be no organization.

That is not how organization works. It is not how we will be in the kingdom of God during the millennium. If you have five cities and I have three cities, and if I think I have some special “gift” that people in your city need, I am not going to go to the people of one of your cities and start teaching them something I think they need to hear without getting your permission, and if you say, “no”, I will respect your decision. Neither in the here and now will I correct your children against your will, even if I think they need the correction. God has entrusted your children’s upbringing to you, not to me, even if I think I know something better.

I remember in Worldwide, during the “good” days when Mr. Armstrong was alive, we heard an announcement from our pastor that we should not share tapes from our local church tape library with members of other congregations. This was a ruling from Pasadena. Why? Each minister has the responsibility to teach his own congregation what it needs the way he deems best. Different congregations have different problems, and each pastor may emphasize things a certain way according to the needs of his particular congregation, and a different emphasis from a different pastor on a recorded tape who doesn’t even know the congregation can interfere with that.

In any organization, there is division of labor and responsibilities. Paul’s area of responsibility was the gentile regions and Peter’s was the Israelitish areas. They agreed to respect each other’s boundaries (Galatians 2:7-9).

I don’t know why a Church of God fellowship would want to prohibit its employed pastors from speaking in other organizations. But that type of activity does fall within the kinds of activities that the government in the Church, which is hierarchical, has authority over.

But as far as sharing gifts, many Church of God fellowships try to share their teachings with Church of God members outside of their fellowship by publishing many of their sermons and just about all of their written material on their websites for all to read or listen to. You and I can listen to LCG sermons, UCG sermons, etc. from the websites of those fellowships, for example. I can read “The Living Church News”, a publication for members of LCG, on LCG’s website, as well as announcements and coworker letters.

Mr. Zehrung said, “One of the last ministerial conferences that I attended – well after the apostasy – an evangelist stood up and said, ‘God gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers – what else can it mean but that God was setting up a hierarchal rule of the ministers over the brethren?’ Brethren, let me explain right up front, when we read these points, these are not ranks of Godly authority, but they are gifts given to individuals to be able to accomplish the job that God wants them to do.”

These titles (apostle, evangelist, etc.), many of them, are also ranks of authority. To say otherwise is contrary to the teaching of the entire Bible about government, authority, and organization.

The authority of these different ranks is LIMITED. They have no authority to tell us to disobey God. They have no authority to cause us to sin or break God’s commandments. They have no authority over our faith, over what we believe. They must teach us to believe the Bible, and when they prove their doctrinal points, they must prove doctrines from the Bible. Christ works with us directly, not through the ministry, in matters of our faith in and obedience to God’s word and our access to God the Father in prayer in Christ’s name. Christ works with us directly in matters of our salvation and eternal judgment.

But the different ranks in the Church – apostles, evangelists, pastors, and ministers and local elders – do have authority over matters relating to the organized work of the Church. And how we use our gifts in the Church does fall into this category.

If God gives a member a gift, to be able to serve others in the Church of God, most pastors are happy to give that member every opportunity to use that gift to help others. If someone has a car and can give a widow a ride, the pastor is usually pleased that the member is able and willing to help that way. If a member has a gift of speaking accurately and effectively to teach God’s way of life, the pastor is usually looking for such members he can add to the list of sermonette speakers. If a member has organizational and leadership ability, most pastors are happy to use him help organize events. But the ranks God has placed in the Church have the authority to direct how those gifts are used.

In some cases, what Mr. Zehrung is saying would be more clear if he used detailed examples. I am not always sure what he is driving at. For example, he says that brethren should lay down their lives to help other members make it into God’s kingdom. What exactly does he have in mind here? An example would have been helpful.

Certainly some organizations are abusive and teach loyalty to their organization more than to God, and that is wrong. Mr. Zehrung is correct to point that out. But to go to the opposite extreme and deny that ranks of authority over the organized work of the Church exist is just as wrong.

God’s government is organized. There is authority. And such authority is necessary, not only for teaching us the lesson of obedience to government that will prepare us for God’s kingdom, but to accomplish God’s work today of preaching the gospel to the world as witness and the Ezekiel warning to Israel before the tribulation begins, while there is time for the people to repent before it is too late. You won’t warn 500 million people without organization and ranks of authority in that organization.

There are many voices in the Church of God that love to preach against organization and authority, but I have not found one that has his heart in God’s work of getting the truth out to a world that needs to hear it. I have not found one that has that kind of love to help others.

You see two sides of a coin being compared and it gives you a chance to examine the differences between these two points of view.

Unfortunately in this particular discussion which point of view you tend to agree with might have a lot to do with your particular experiences.

Just as author sees things that are correct and things that are not in Mr. Zehrung’s comments I see pro and con in his.

And yet I think they stand together to give us an overview of what should be right and what likely could be wrong.

What I wanted everyone to get out of this is that there are gifts of God’s Spirit that we should be seeking and expecting to receive. And I worry even though author, doesn’t seem to that if those gifts of a more shall we say spiritual nature begin to arrive that the church groups with the stronger governmental authority may well tend to squelch them.

Many groups with strong authority may indeed try to squelch powerful gifts of a spiritual nature. To direct and control the wise use of those gifts is not necessarily wrong, but those who squelch the gifts in a wrong way will have to give account to Christ.

Probably, at this point, the discussion would benefit from some examples so we know what we mean by “gifts”.

Suppose God gave a powerful gift of healing to a lay member. Whoever the lay member lays hands on, that person is healed. That would be a powerful gift. If he were a member of RCG, would Mr. Dave Pack forbid him to use it? If he were a member of LCG, would Dr. Meredith forbid him to use it? What Mr. Pack would do, I cannot say. I think Dr. Meredith would welcome it because he has taught in sermons that members should pray that God would give the gift of healing not only to ministers but to members, if I recall and understand those sermons correctly.

But even if some “authority groups”, if I could coin that term, squelch gifts in the wrong way, hierarchical authority is still the right form of governance in the Church and is necessary to accomplish any great work. If some abuse that structure, that does not make the structure wrong.

Rightly used, authority can enhance a person’s ability to use his gift.

Suppose, for example, God gave you several gifts – the gift of miraculous healing, the gift of prophecy so you could predict events, and the gift of understanding and teaching the truth of the Bible in speaking and writing. Further, suppose God put it in your mind to use these gifts to the maximum degree to get God’s work done.

As a sole individual you might heal a few people. You might attract traffic through fulfilled predictions on your website, and you might write articles that will bring the truth to many. But unless you have a team to back you up, your efforts will be limited.

How could you handle the correspondence that would come to you? As a lone individual, could you answer one thousand emails a day? How could you counsel 200 people a day for baptism? How about Sabbath services for thousands of new members and new prospective members that learn about the truth from your websites?

You need to have people help you. And because God has given you the gift of understanding His word, it would be your responsibility to make sure that the whole team of helpers that is backing you (helping to answer emails for example) is teaching the truth accurately.

But right away, you will have a problem if you don’t have organization and authority, because the people who answer email will have different ideas. Questions will come in, is it ok to eat in a restaurant on the Sabbath? Should we observe new moons? Does 2 Thessalonians 2:3 refer to a falling away in the Church or in the world? Is is ok for women to wear makeup? Who are the 144,000 in Revlation? How should we count Pentecost when the first or last day of unleavened bread falls on a weekly Sabbath?

If you really had the gifts of healing and prophecy in a powerful way, you might need 30 or 50 people just to handle all the correspondence that would come in. How do you make sure everyone is on track? How do you make sure they answer correctly or even consistantly unless you have authority to direct their work in how they help you handle the workload? I could guarantee they won’t agree with you and with each other on everything. Even if you started out with people who seemed to agree, sooner or later some of them will come up with a “new idea” they think is a gift from God, but you know it is wrong. And you will not always be able to convince them by talking about it.

Can you see the need for authority? Without it, you cannot have organization and teamwork and your accomplishments will be more limited than they need to be.

From time to time someone will think that he has a gift from God, but either it is not really a gift from God or the way he plans to use that gift is not the way God wants him to use it. How can you control that and prevent confusion if you have no authority?

God after all does limit and control how His gifts are used. Christ told His disciples, at one point, to only preach to the tribes of Israel. Later He told them to go to all the world. Christ at first refused to heal the daughter of a woman of Canaan because He was only sent to Israel, but He made an exception because of her faith when she said that the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table. There is no evidence Jesus did works of healing and preaching in His early twenties because it was not yet His time. There must have been many opportunities to heal the sick and crippled, yet Christ restrained himself until the time had come to begin His ministry. Solomon said there is a time for all things. It is simply not true that gifts should be used in every way and at every time possible without regard to all the consequences. So God establishes government in the Church so that all things can be done in proper order without confusion. And the fact that many authoritarian leaders misuse government does not make government wrong.

In the matter of questions, you might say, “Simple, we all agree to follow the judgments of Mr. Armstrong”. But that would lock you out from learning new things and correcting errors from the Bible, which is a fundamental principle Mr. Armstrong taught. We must be willing to grow in knowledge and let Christ teach us new things from the Bible, things Mr. Armstrong did not know, and even to correct his errors if he made any. And if God gives you the gift of understanding the Bible, you may yourself have to make changes in Mr. Armstrong’s doctrines from time to time. And if you do that, without authority to direct the work of the people who help you, the people who answer correspondence will think, ok, if Raymond Mills can change a doctrine, so can I. If he has a gift, I think I have a gift too.

If you build a large and complex website, and you don’t have time to do all the coding, you may hire or use the volunteer work of a graphic designer, an HTML/Javascript coder, and a PHP coder to do the work. Will you not expect them to do what you tell them? Or is each person free to do his work as he pleases?

Author@ptgbook.org has expressed a lot of wisdom and understanding in the above comments concerning government, and authority in the organization of the Church. The real problem in the scattered, and divided organizations which are ruling over many of God’s saints is: The leaders of these organizations are not truly yielding their selves into Christ’s hands to let his righteous authority rule over their own lives, in what they teach, and in the way they execute their authority over the brethren. Another major problem is also the fact that most of the ministry has lost the respect of the brethren, because of their own compromises with the truth, and because they had turned against and cast out many faithful brethren who only desired the truth. I believe that there will not be any large scale work done by any of these disagreeing, and contentious organizations, until God shows all of the Church, and all of the world who it is that God has chosen to represent him on this earth when he gives miraculous powers to his two witnesses. There will be an innumerable multitude of all nations that will then repent and be converted to live over into the new world; where Christ and his wife will feed them, and lead them unto “fountains of living waters”. As it stands today many covetous and vain men seek to be the earthly head of God’s Church; but God can’t use such men to represent him. He will let us all know who he has chosen to represent him when he gives power to his two witnesses after the order of Moses and Elijah. Until then the scattered Church of God has no righteous leadership that all faithful saints will respect as they did Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. Without that righteous authority, and without respect for that righteous authority; it is impossible for any right and large organized work to be accomplished by the Church. Today, even if God began sending plagues of punishment on this earth that were so frightening that the people wanted to turn to God; they wouldn’t know who to turn to, and who to believe. Who is the true Church of God? Who is that leader of that Church? Who would they believe and follow and be instructed by? God will make them to know in similar manner as he did to Israel in the days of Ahab. Most of Israel thought Baal was God, until God used Elijah to show them who is the true God, and who also was God’s true prophet. That must be done again before God pours out his wrath on the disobedient people of this earth. Not only for Israel, but for the entire world. God will not pour out his final wrath on people who are just deceived and ignorant. No, God will first cause the people of this earth to know what he does require of them; and how could he do that unless he first sends his approved witnesses to tell them, and be backed up by the awesome power of Almighty God! It truly does take authority and administration of that authority to accomplish the work of God. God himself will show soon whom he has chosen to be his chosen agents to represent him before all mankind.